The state education department released graduation rates for the class of 2012 on Monday.

Students who entered high school in 2008 were the first who didn't have the option of graduating with a so-called local diploma, meaning they had to earn a Regents diploma requiring them to pass five Regents exams.

The New York State Education Department said the Rochester graduation rate dropped from 45.5% to 43.4% from 2011 to 2012.

"These results are painful and unacceptable for me and should be to everyone associated with the district, our families (and) our community," said Bolgen Vargas, Superintendent of Schools.

Hispanic students had the lowest graduation rate at 38 percent, followed by black students at 43.4 percent, 57.8 percent of white students of the class studied graduated.

Rochester's rate went up to 48.6 percent, when the 2012 summer school session was included.

State education leaders said overall statewide graduation rates remained stable at 74% despite increased rigor required for graduation phased-in over the past four years.